Are we connected?

by Brad Price

Recently, before engaging in a Bible study with a senior citizen, I was asked to see if the woman’s basement phone could be repaired. A quick examination of her telephone revealed that everything worked except the ringer.

The inside components of the woman’s phone included two metal circles with a thick steel rod between them. When a phone call was received, the rod vibrated back and forth, striking the metal circles, allowing the phone to ring.

The rod worked, but it was not close enough to strike the metal circles to allow the phone to ring. When we moved both circles closer to the vibrating rod, the phone worked as it should.

Some people are like those bells. Many are “close to the kingdom of heaven” (Mark 12:34), but are still too far away.

Perhaps we have faith (Hebrews 11:6), are willing to repent of our sins (Acts 17:30) and confess Jesus as the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10).

However, until the next step is taken—baptism into Christ (Galatians 3:37) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)—we are like the vibrating rod that was just out of the reach of some phone bells.

Maybe we were once connected to the Lord, just like the vibrating rod. However, for some reason we have “left [our] first love” (Revelation 2:4) and need to repent (Revelation 2:5) so we can reclaim our proper place among God’s people.

Are we certain we are connected to Jesus Christ completely (John 15:1-6)?

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Brad is a preacher and writer and his work can be found at www.abiblecommentary.com

Randal and his wife have lived and worked in Brazil since 1984. They have three children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Randal's a lefty, a chocolate lover, an author and a poet. His microblog is randal.us.